The humble squeegee

Aug 26, 2024 | Industry Advice

shutterstock 1771149062 The humble squeegee

The squeegee is the interface between us the fitter and the vinyl

In this article, Paul Hughes from Sign Making Tools, provides some top tips for choosing the squeegee that is right for you and your business.

Let’s talk about the most under valued tool in any sign makers tool kit – the humble squeegee.

The squeegee is the interface between us the fitter and the vinyl. The right one can make a world of difference. So, what is the right one? There are as many answers to that question as the sign makers you ask it to!

For those new to the trade there are a few rules, as to which squeegees is used for which jobs. Plastic edge squeegees are for the application of cut vinyl graphics being applied with a covering of application tape, if used directly on the face of the vinyl they are very likely to scratch the film. These scratches are more noticeable on dark coloured gloss vinyl.

So how do we apply a digital print or large area of vinyl be it a wrap or standard vinyl without scratches? Felt block squeegees are a useful tool, they are much softer on the face of the film thus less scratches. One down side is that most of this type of squeegees are quite a course felt which can easily trap dirt in the felt and then scratch the film when an application is made.

In recent years a hybrid squeegee has become very popular. A hybrid squeegee has the standard plastic edge on one side the other is covered with all manner of different felt, suede, cloth and exotic materials all called a buffer, wings or edges. The different materials are all there to do the same job – stop scratches. But all have different characteristics, some designed to glide, some designed to drag, some designed to be used wet some dry. Some are designed to be long lasting, some to be replaced regularly.

Lots of choice

I think it’s becoming apparent that there is lots of choices and we have not even talked about the flexibility of the squeegee. The flex or stiffness of the squeegee is measured in shores. The lower the number the softer the material. Again, which is right? Softer squeegees generally drag more but are more flexible, harder ones tend to glide more but are more ridged.

We better not talk about speciality squeegees that are designed to get into all manner of different nooks and crannies of vehicles or the rubbered edge type squeegees used in window tinting, there are literally hundreds of choices.

So many people starting their sign making journey just use the cheapest squeegee they can get or even one they are given by a vinyl supplier. My advice to all those starting out is try different squeegees, try a soft, medium and hard squeegee, try different buffers/ edges. It will become quite clear to you when you have found the right ones – it will improve the quality and speed of your vinyl applications, it can also lessen fatigue from prolonged use.

Inevitable during use the plastic edge of a squeegee will get damaged, any dinks or marks in the edge is likely to result in bubbles/scratches in the vinyl film. The life of the squeegee can be extended by the use of a squeegee sharpener. This is like a small wood plane, when the edge of the squeegee is passed through it the damaged edge is planed off creating a new smooth edge.

I know we can get attached to our tools but squeegees only last for so long. A dirty damaged squeegee is not going to result in perfectly applied vinyl graphics, replace them regularly for best results.

Next time we will talk about squeegee technique and how it will transform your application of vinyl.

SHARE: